Display-rack.



T. w. nowwme.

DISPLAY RACK. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 13. 1914.

Patented Apr. 20, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEBT 1.

7 jgiyi THE NORRIS PETERS CO., FHOTO-LITHG, WASHINGNN, D. Q

T. W. DOWNING.

DISPLAY RACK. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 13, 1914.

2 sums-$113M z.

Patented Apr. 20, 1915.

far/211%? THE NORRIS PETERS CO FHOTO-LIII WASHINGTON, Dv cv 7 ing them together;

. THOMAS w. DOWNING, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DISPLAY-RACK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 21 1915.

Application filed January 13, 1914. Serial No. 811,786.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS W. Dowmne, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Display-Racks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in display-racks, which I have more especially devised for displaying framed or unframed paintings, photographs, china ware, and the like, while supporting them in an orderly manner in readily accessible condition for individual inspection without marring them by handling or otherwise injuring them.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a broken view in side elevation of my improved display-rack; Fig. 2 is a broken perspective view of a side of the base-frame and a side of a holding-frame, showing them in unassembled relation and illustrating preferred means provided for hingedly lock- Fig. 3 is a similar view of the same, but showing the parts in their assembled relation; Fig. 4 is a section on the irregular line 4-4:, Fig. 1; Fig. 5 IS a section on line 5, Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a broken view in elevation, partly sectional, of one of a plurality of similar holding frames, showing the means provided for releasably locking the adjustable lower cross-member, and Fig. 7 is an enlarged section on line 7, Fig. 4:.

The device comprises a base-frame S of any desired length havlng heads 9 on its opposite ends and a plurality of holding frames 10 hingedly connected in series with the side-bars of the base-frame. The frame 8 may be best formed of a single band of steel bent into rectangular form; and its side-members contain, at uniform intervals, holes 11 of the preferred rhomb-shape illustrated. Feet 12, provided with rubber cushioning-tips 13, are secured in suitable position on the base-frame to support it stably. Each head 9 is shown to be formed of a heavy wire or slender cylindrical metal rod, which is bent into the shape illustrated with the ends of its legs forming outwardly-projecting trunnions 14 to work hlngedly in holes provided to receive them in the side members of the base-frame near their ends. These heads cross in their unfolded raised condition and rest against the end-members of the base-frame and fold toward each other to compact the latter for transportation or shipment when the holding frames 10 are disconnected therefrom. The frames 10 are all alike. Each is preferably formed of a strip of steel bent into the general rectangular shape illustrated with an offset central crown 10 on its outer end; and the legs of this frame are provided with inwardly-projecting rhomb-shaped buttons 15, whereby in applying the legs to the baseframe they are caused to embrace its sidemembers at points where the buttons reg ister with opposite holes 11, which they enter to become locked by turning the frame 10 on the trunnions afforded by the buttonnecks to bring the buttons out of registration with the holes. A lower cross-member 16 is adjustably supported on the legs of each frame 10. As shown, this member is formed as a frame of a strip of steel bent upon itself into rectangular shape and has secured to its ends rectangular pieces 17 having slotted ends to surround the frame legs and be guided in sliding the crossframe for adjustment thereon; and each guide-piece 17 terminates in a bearing 18 for a thumb-screw 19 to fasten the cross-frame in adjusted position. Rectangular fingers 20 extend from the lower member of the cross-frame to form a rest for the object to be displayed on the frame, and from opposite sides of the crown-end of the holdingframe extend T-shaped brackets 21, each in line with a finger 20 and provided on the inner side of the lower member of its head with a facing of felt 22, or other suitable non-abrading or cushioning material.

To use my improved display-rack it is placed with the base-frame in position on a floor, platform or table, the heads 9 unfolded to extend at the base ends, as shown in Fig. 1, and the holding-frames 10 attached to the base frame with those at the ends of the series bearing against the head. As many articles as the rack will hold, one of which is indicated by dotted lines at X in each of Figs. 1 and 1, may be displayed thereon. To apply to a frame 10 a picture, plate or the like, the latter is seated on the two fingers 20 and the cross-frame 16 is adjusted to raise the article and insert its upper part behind the depending sections of the heads of the two brackets 21, thereby confining the article by clamping it between the brackets and fingers, the vertical parts of which moreover confine it against falling out in the forward direction. The cushion-material 22 prevents. abrading or marring contact of the brackets with the display-surface of the supported article,which may be read ily released for removal or releasing and lowering the respective cross-frame 16. All frames not in use on the rack may be disposed, toward one end thereof, inclined one against the other, while those in use may be similarly disposed toward the oppo site end of the rack, as represented in Fig.1.

Any picture or the like on my improved display-rack may be examined without removing it by turning away the frames ahead of it to present to viewthe particular article which it is desired to inspect, without re-' or preferred embodiment of my invention to be limited thereto; my intention being, in the following claims, to claim protection upon all the novelty there may be in my invention as broadly as the state of the art will permit.

l/Vhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A display-rack comprising a base having heads at its opposite ends, and holdingframes hingedly connected at intervals with the base-sides, the holding-frames having brackets on their upper ends and crossmembers adjustably supported on their legs and provided with seats for the articles to be displayed, said brackets maintaining the holding frames in spaced relation at all times.

2. A display-rack comprising an oblong base-frame, heads hingedly connected with said frame to project over'its ends, and holding-frames hingedly connected at intervals with the base-frame sides, the holding- (fopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the frames having brackets on their upper ends and cross-frames adjustably supported on their legs and provided with seats for the articles to be displayed, said brackets and "cross frames also coacting with the adjacent Y holding frame to articles carried thereby.

prevent damage to the 8. A display-rack comprising an oblong basehaving heads at its opposite ends, and holdmg-frames hingedly connected at intervals with the base-sides, the holding- Tashaped brackets and frames having upper lower cross-frames adjustablysupported on the holding-frame legs and provided with seating fingers for the articles to be displayed, said brackets and cross frames also maintaining said holding frames-in substantially parallel relation in all positions '70- of'rest.

4:. A displayrack comprising an oblong base-frame having holes at intervals in its sides, heads hingedly connected with said frame to project over its ends, and holdingframes having buttons on their legs to enter said holes and hingedly connect the holding frames with the base-frame, the holdingframes having and-lower cross-frames slidingly supported on the holding-frame legs and provided with seats for the articles to be displayed and with means for fastening the crossframes in adjusted position on'the legs.

5. A display-rack comprising an, oblong.

base-frame, heads hmgedly connected with said frame to project over its ends, and

holding-frames hingedly connected at in-' tervals with the base-frame sides, the holding-frames having brackets on their upper ends, cross-frames having end-pieces at which they are slidingly-supported onthe legs of the holding-frames and provided with set-screwbearings and set-screws for fastening the cross-frames 1n adjusted position, and seating-fingers on the cross-frames,

said brackets being mounted to engage the adjacent'holding frames and prevent clamage to the article carried thereby. V

V THOMAS W. DOWNING. In presence of A. C. FISCHE F. A. FLORELL.

Washington, D. C.

brackets on their upper ends Commissioner of Patents, 7 

